PROVERBS 1:7 In what way is the fear of Jehovah “the beginning of knowledge” and “the beginning of wisdom”?

If there is no fear of Jehovah, there cannot be any knowledge, for the Father is the Creator of all things and the Author of the inspired, fully inerrant Scriptures. (Rom. 1:20; 2 Tim. 3:16-17) He is the actual Source of all true knowledge. Therefore, knowledge begins with the reverential (respectful) fear of the Father. Fear or reverential fear of God is also the beginning of wisdom because you cannot have wisdom without knowledge. Furthermore, a person who does not possess the appropriate fear of Jehovah will not use whatever knowledge he has come by to honor the Creator.

“The fear of Jehovah” is the repeated theme of wisdom found in the book of Proverbs.^[1] One who fears Jehovah, he has the qualities of humility (15:33; 22:4), wisdom (1:7), possessing faithfulness and Godly love (16:6), and concern for his relationship with God (2:5; 9:10). In the book of Proverbs, fear of Jehovah is related to faith in God that is constantly seeking understanding.^[2]  In what way is “the fear of Jehovah” “the beginning of knowledge” and ‘the beginning of wisdom’? (9:10) If we did not have a fear of Jehovah (i.e., not a morbid dread of him but rather a profound reverence and awe in the presence of such an all-powerful person), we would have no knowledge, for the Father is the Creator of all things and the Author of the Spirit-inspired Scriptures. Therefore, we need to give Jehovah the proper place in our life. Life is from the Father, and life is, of course, indispensable for our having any knowledge.

[1] (cf. 1:29; 2:5; 9:10; 10:27; 14:26, 27; 15:16, 33; 16:6; 19:23; 22:4; 23:17)

[2] Leo G. Perdue, Wisdom & Creation: The Theology of Wisdom Literature (Nashville: Abingdon, 1994), p. 79.

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